Respond to these rapid questions in our Dune quiz and we will tell you which Dune character you are. Play it now.
In the 1960s and 1970s, the two big counterculture sci-fi novels were Robert Heinlein’s libertarian-division novel Stranger in a Strange Land, which made the word “grok” a thing for many years (it’s no longer a thing; it doesn’t even appear in crossword puzzles anymore), and Frank Herbert’s 1965 Dune, a futuristic geopolitical allegory that was anti-corporate, pro-environmental radicalism, However, the reason why mega-producers and mega-corporations have been pursuing the ideal film adaptation of this piece of intellectual property for so many decades is beyond the scope of this review. However, it is an interesting question.
Due to my lack of interest in science fiction, even countercultural science fiction, during my adolescent years in the 1970s, Dune passed me by. As a result, when David Lynch’s 1984 film adaptation of the novel, which was backed by then mega-producer Dino De Laurentiis, was released, I didn’t bother to read it. As a conceited twentysomething film enthusiast who was not yet of professional caliber, the only thing that mattered to me was that it was a David Lynch film, and nothing else. Nonetheless, I recently read Herbert’s book for whatever reason (due diligence, or curiosity about how my life might have been different if I had chosen Herbert and Heinlein rather than Nabokov and Genet back in the day), and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It’s true that the prose is clumsy and the dialogue is even clunkier, but I enjoyed much of it, especially the way it intertwined its social commentary with enough scenes of action and cliff-hanging suspense to fill an entire old-time serial.
Denis Villeneuve’s new film adaptation of the novel, which he directed from a script he co-wrote with Eric Roth and Jon Spaihts, brilliantly visualizes the scenes described in the book. The film “Dune,” as many of you are aware, takes place in a very distant future in which humanity has progressed in many scientific respects while also mutating in a number of spiritual respects. People in this scenario aren’t on Earth, for whatever reason, and the imperial family of Atreides has been tasked with ruling the desert planet of Arrakis, a power play with which we aren’t entirely familiar for a while. Off-worlders (that is, Westerners for you geo-political allegorists in the audience) face a variety of dangers as a result of what is referred to as “the spice” (which is crude oil for you eco-allegorists in the audience).
But you shouldn’t waste any more time and start this Dune quiz.
In some ways, to say that I have not admired Villeneuve’s previous films would be an understatement. However, I cannot deny that he has produced a film adaptation of the book that is more than satisfactory. Or, to put it another way, two-thirds of the way through. It’s half, according to the filmmaker; however, I believe my estimate is correct.) The film’s opening title refers to it as “Dune Part 1,” and while the two-and-a-half-hour film delivers a genuine epic experience, it isn’t shy about hinting that there is more to the story than meets the eye. Herbert’s own vision corresponds to Villeneuve’s own storytelling affinities to such an extent that he does not appear to have felt compelled to graft his own ideas onto this work, according to Herbert. And while Villeneuve has been and likely will continue to be one of the most humorless filmmakers working today, the novel wasn’t exactly a barrel of laughs, so it’s a good thing that Villeneuve paid attention to the few light moments in the script, which I suspect were written by Roth.
Dune Quiz
Over the course of the film, the filmmaker, working with a team of incredible technicians that includes cinematographer Greig Fraser and editor Joe Walker, as well as production designer Patrice Vermette, manages to walk the fine line between grandeur and pomposity in between such unabashedly thrilling sequences as the Gom Jabbar test and rescue, the spice herder rescue, the thopter in a storm nail-biter, and various sandworm encounters and attacks. For those unfamiliar with the “Dune” world, these listings will appear as gibberish, and you will read other reviews complaining about how difficult it is to follow them. It certainly isn’t, if you pay attention, and the script does a good job with exposition without making it appear to be EXPOSITION at all times. At least, that’s how it seems most of the time. Nonetheless, if you aren’t a fan of science-fiction films in general, there may be little reason for you to be interested in “Dune.” The novel has had a significant impact, particularly on George Lucas, who has cited it as an inspiration. People, we’re talking about the DESERT PLANET. The higher mystics in the “Dune” universe have this little thing they call “The Voice,” which evolved into “Jedi Mind Tricks” after being discovered by the Jedi. And so forth.
Also, you will find out which character are you in this Dune quiz.
The characters of Herbert, who are generally speaking more archetypes than individuals, are very well represented by Villeneuve’s large ensemble cast. At the beginning of his portrayal of Paul Atreides, Timothée Chalamet relies heavily on his youthful exuberance, which he successfully shakes off as his character comes to realize his power and learns how to Follow His Destiny. Paul’s father, the Duke, is played with dignity by Oscar Isaac, and Jessica, Paul’s mother, is played by Rebecca Ferguson, who is both mysterious and fierce. Chani, Zendaya is an excellent choice, if not the best choice. In a departure from Herbert’s novel, the ecologist Kynes is played with intimidating force by Sharon Duncan-Brewster, who also plays the role of the ecologist in the novel. And so forth.
About the quiz
Recently, Villeneuve expressed dissatisfaction with the Warner Media deal that will see “Dune” released on streaming platforms at the same time as it is released in theaters. Villeneuve stated that the film was made “as a tribute to the big-screen experience.” When I first heard about the project, I thought it was a pretty lame reason to make a movie. After seeing “Dune,” I have a better understanding of what he was getting at, and I kind of agree with him. The film is replete with allusions to cinematic works, the majority of which are films in the tradition of High Cinematic Spectacle. Of course, there’s “Lawrence of Arabia,” which is about a desert. But there’s also a little bit of “Apocalypse Now” in the scene where Stellan Skarsgrd’s bald-as-an-egg Baron Harkonnen is introduced. There’s “2001: A Space Odyssey” to look forward to. It’s possible to argue that some films are outliers, but they are unquestionably classics, such as Hitchcock’s 1957 adaptation of “The Man Who Knew Too Much” and Antonioni’s “Red Desert.” Hans Zimmer’s let’s-put-those-subwoofers-to-the-test score conjures up images of Christopher Nolan. He also pays homage to Maurice Jarre’s score for “Lawrence of Arabia,” as well as György Ligeti’s “Atmospheres” from the film “2001.” However, there are visual echoes of Nolan’s work as well as Ridley Scott’s work.
Also, you must try to play this Dune quiz.
These will either tickle or enrage certain cinephiles, depending on their current mood or general inclination, depending on the film. I found them to be diverting. Moreover, they did not detract from the main objective of the film. The film “Dune” will always hold a special place in my heart because it is a severely compromised dream-work that (as might be expected given Lynch’s own inclination) makes little use of Herbert’s messages. “Dune,” on the other hand, is Villeneuve’s film.
The film will be released in theaters on October 22nd and will be available on HBO Max the same day. On September 3rd, in conjunction with the Venice Film Festival’s world premiere, a review was filed with the appropriate authorities.
For more personality quizzes check this: Venom Quiz.
